British and Irish Lions 2013: Matt Stevens ready to show Australia he is more than just a 'slab of red meat'

The call came just as the train pulled into Bath Spa. Matt Stevens had already
walked on towards Jika-Jika, a café close to the station, one of two dining
establishments he co-owns with former hooker Lee Mears.

Stevens’ wife, India, had been phoned by Georgia Barritt, wife of Brad, another who would have held out hopes of a place on the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia. One man’s despondency is another man’s joy.

“I was actually trying to fix one of the iced-coffee machines when India took the call,” said Stevens, who had an inkling that he was in contention after being asked about potential availability by Warren Gatland six weeks ago.

“But it was still a surprise, a huge surprise. I didn’t want to put myself on tenterhooks by monitoring the announcement. I was busy talking about coffee things. The staff were happy for me although all they really wanted to know was if it meant they had more work to do in my absence.”

Durban-born Stevens is a bright, even-handed kind of guy, a graduate of Bath University with a degree in politics and economics as well as a graduate of the school of life having served a two-year ban from 2009-2011 for cocaine use.

The mixed-up kid who dabbled with dangerous habits is long gone. Now a father of twin 2½-year-old daughters, Stevens, 30, retired from international rugby last summer to spend time with his young family. There are those who think he ought to be spending his entire time elsewhere after bringing shame on the game as well as himself with his recreational drug abuse.

“I can completely understand that point of view,” said Stevens. “But what can I do about it? It would only bring you down to worry about it. My responsibility is to the rest of the squad, my only duty to work my butt off for them. To get hung up on how people perceive you is to go into a downward spiral.”

The Australian press greeted his selection in typically understated fashion with reference to Stevens as “a South African busted for cocaine”. Another balanced headline spoke of Warren Gatland picking “slabs of raw, red meat”.

“Well, I’m that all right, definitely, you didn’t even really have to ask that question did you?” said Stevens with a laugh, acknowledging that he had put on weight, deliberately so, and now topped the scales at 130kg.

“I’m a big man with a big frame. It’s not just about weight, it’s what you do with it. As for everything else, well look, do I deserve to be here in all senses, not just current playing form? To be honest, that is a bit of a monkey on the back for me. I know how easily things can come crashing down to earth for you. It certainly breeds humility in you. I’m calmer these days, and all I know that I can do is graft and be nice to people. If good things follow, then great.”

Stevens the prop is as intriguing a subject as Stevens the man. His best days appeared to be behind him once he called time on his international career. A prop has to be at the sharp end to endure. Stevens did not want to commit himself through to the 2015 Rugby World Cup with his family in mind.

“The Lions was not even in my head at that stage, no sense that even if I wasn’t playing for England that I might make myself available for the Lions,” said Stevens, who has toured with the Lions before, playing six games in New Zealand in 2005 but not making the Test side in a series in which the All Blacks played merry hell with their opponents, winning

3-0 and at a canter. “It wasn’t on my radar.”

Stevens struck lucky – or had a shrewd awareness of future possibilities – in that he was picked up by Saracens following his ban. As a neat measuring stick, Saracens play his former club, Bath, today at Allianz Park in the last game of the regular Aviva Premiership season, and looking to close out their campaign with the win that would mean they finish top of the table for the first time.

“I’m a better prop now than I was at Bath,” said Stevens.

Saracens have not only helped apply balm to the once-troubled Stevens’ soul, they have also turned him into a more durable unit. His value, to the Lions in 2005 and for England across the course of 44 Test matches, lay in his mobility as well as being able to play on either side of the scrum.

He acknowledges that he was indeed the left-field selection in the entire 37-man party but insists he has no concerns about his ability to breach the gap between club and Lions level now that he is no longer playing international rugby.

There was a patronising line trotted out that he won Lions’ selection because he is known as a ‘good tourist’, clubbable and with a singing voice good enough to have once finished runner-up in Celebrity X-Factor.

“Ha!’ is his response to that. “I have no qualms about my ability to step up. I trust myself. I’m very keen to put a marker down as are all the guys. I’m certainly not going just to be seen as a backup to [tightheads] Adam Jones and Dan Cole. The central tenet of all great Lions tours is that they have had competition for places. I might be bulkier than I was, but I’m still carrying ball and making tackles. I like to think that’s the point of difference that got me selected.”

Stevens was in good order on Thursday, understandably so given the call-up, but so too were his Saracens team-mates, recovered from their Heineken Cup semi-final defeat to Toulon last weekend.

“We had out best training session of our entire season today,” said Stevens. “The coaches here know how to handle players. It is about trust and respect and enjoyment. It is only a game, after all, a terribly serious thing at the time, but only a game.”

On and off the field, Stevens knows the truth of that.

Matt Stevens plays for Saracens, who are sponsored by Allianz, one of the world’s largest financial services providers. Visit Allianz.co.uk